Spinning-top



F. L. LINDSTROM.

SPINNING TOP. APPLICATlDN FlLEDlUNE2$.1920.

1,368,039. Patented Feb. 8,1921,

gjnmento'c Ewnk 1, Linlklfinm,

UNITED STATES FRANK L. LINDSTROM, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

SPIN N ING-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921,

Application filed June 25, 1920. Serial No. 391,733.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. LINDSTROM, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpinning-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in spinning-tops,designed to be operated by a detachable twisting head including a springwhich is wound byturning the head portion against and in relation to thebody.

The invention further relates to that particular type of spinning-topwhich includes both a hollow head and body portion, with suitable meansfor engaging one with the 7 other, and having side ducts leading out tothe atmosphere from the hollow body por- I tion, forming sound producingmeans, as shown in prior Patent #823,809 of June 9, 1906.

The object of the invention is to generally improve upon theconstruction of this class of tops by designing the same so it can bemade from metal by automatic machincry, and readily assembled withlittle or no waste, to form a light, durable and practical toy.

A further feature of the invention is to provide in the top-body, aspring actuated holding means to engage sockets in the head and toprovide in the underside of the head, in alinement with the holdingmeans, a series of inclined notches for engagement by the holding meanswhen winding the body and head in relation to eachv other, for thepurpose of twisting the spring carried in the head.

Another object of the device is to support the central stem in the upperportion of the top body, and to secure thesame and the spring actuatedholding means within an inclosed extension formed upon the top member ofthe body, leaving the main chamber of the body free and unobstructedexcept for the air ducts through its lower side portion. Y

With these and other objects in view the invention resides and consistsin the construction and novel combination and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it beingunderstood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minordetails of construction within the scope of the claimsmay be resorted towithout departure from the spirit or sacrigoing any of the advantages ofthe inven- Similar characters of reference denote like or correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification, and upon which:

Figure 1 shows a central vertical sectional view through my improvedspinningtop including the operating head having a winding spring foroperating the body.

Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of the winding head as seen fromabove.

Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the winding head, as seen frombelow, and

Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of the body portion and stem ofthe top as seen from above. 7

Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon thedrawings, 5 represents the lower curved sheet metal bottom section ofthe body and (i the top section, theannular edge portion 7 of the saidtop member being turned in under and against the annular edge portion ofthe bottom section to secure the two together and to form an integralhollow body. The upper portion of the top section 6 of the body is setin to form a recess 8 and annular shoulder 9 to receive the lower edgeportion of the cap 10, said cap being secured in this position by reasonof its having a series of points 11 which are passed through holes inthe top section and turned against the under side of the same. Thecentral portion of this top section is further shaped to include acentrahpocket 12 to receive and support the lower end of the stem 13.The lower portion of the stem is positioned in the pocket formed in thecap and is provided with an annular shoulder 14 which is seated againstthe underside of the cap surrounding the hole through which the stemextends, in a way to form a rigid connection of the parts, without theuse of solder, brazing or the like. The spindle 15 is secured in thecenter of the lower section 5 of the top-body and in alinement with thestem and serves as the operating point upon which the top spins. Inaddition to the several holes 16 in the top of the cap 10, forengagement of the end of the winding spring, I provide a hole 17in-whichthe upper end portion of the slidable spring actuated engagingpin' 7 18 is operatively mounted, the lower end ofsaid pinbeingsimilarly guided in a like hole 19in the upper section 6. This pinincludes a collar 20 against one end ofwhich the spring 21 is positionedto normally hold the "upper'end of the pin extended and "its theinclosed portion of the top section 6.;

' The twisting head includes a shell 22 hav ing a central hole 23 in itstop portion to accommodate the upper end of the stem 13 and 1s provldedwith an annular rib 24, for the better engagement of the hand of theoperator. The lower end 'portionof this twisting head is in the form ofa plate 25 which is supported against an annular shoulder 26 formed inthe lower edge portion of the side Wall of the shell and is held inposition by the edge portion 27 of said shell being turned in under andagainst the said closure plate. A series of notches 28 spaced at equaldistances apart are formed in this plate to aline with and engage thefrictional holding pin. These notches as will be seen are formed bystamping the metal, in a way to form an inclined surface upon one sideand a shoulder upon the other, which readily permits the head to beturned upon the stein in one direction so that the end of the pin willdrop into and hold against the shoulders of the notches and to readilyride up the inclines and out the opposite side of the notches by thecontinued turning of the head in relation to the body.

The upper end 29 of the winding spring 30 is attached to the loop 31formed upon the under side of the shell while the lower end extends outof the head and is provided with a hook 32 to engage the holes 16 of thetop-body. A tubular sheet metal part 33 is contained within the head tofurther inclose the winding spring as will readily be apparent from Fig.1 of the drawings.

In order to spin the top it is simply necessary to slip the head uponthe stem and turn the same thereon against the body so that the hook end32 of the spring will engage one'of the holes 16in the cap, the furtherturning of the head with relation to the body will twist the spring,while the holding pin will drop into the respective notch and hold theparts'together against the tension of the spring. After the spring hasbeen twisted, the spinning of the top is effected by suspending the headand top in one hand and then by means of the'thumb, of that hand,pressing upon the top endoii the stem to separate the two'membersand-disengage the end 01: the spring, whereupon the body dro 3S spinningfrom the head to the floor.

I aving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Pat series of notches formed in its underside to aline andregister with vthe pin inthe cap, 'and a spring secured within the headand having one end projected for engagement withtheholes of the cap. j 7v 2. The combination with I a top body formed of upper and lowersections and in "eluding a series of holes in its top side, a centralstem'supported on the top section and extending upward therefrom and aspring actuated holding pin projected from the top section of the body,of a "twisting head formed of sheet metal having a series of notchesformed in its underside toaline and register with the holding pin, and aspring one end secured thereto and the other end "projected forengagement with the holes in the body. j

3. A sheet metal spinning top including a top-body and twisting -head,said body including a hollow'chamber and a cap attached upon its topside having a series of holes therein, a stem secured wholly within thecap, a yieldable holding pin mounted in and projecting from a twistinghead having a series'of notches formed in its underside to aline andIGgIS' ter with the holding pin, and a spring contained within the headhavlng one end secontained within the head having the top of the cap,and

cured thereto and the other end projected for engagement with'the holesin the cap. 7

4. A sheet metal spinning top formed of "sections and including a topb'ody and head,

said body-being formed of an upper and lower concave section seamedtogether to form a hollow body portion, a cap secured upon the topsection and having a series of holes in its top side, a stemsecuredwholly within the top section and cap, a spring actuated holdingmeans mounted in and projecting from the top of-the cap, and atwistinghead formed of sheet metal, a series of notches formed in its undersideto aline and register with the holding means, I and a spring containedwithin the head having one end secured thereto and the other endprojected for engagement with the holes in the top.

5. A sheet metal spinning top formed of sections and including atop-body and head, said body being formed in part of an upper sectionhaving a pocket in its top side, a cap secured in the pocket and havinga series of holes in its to side, a stem secured wholly within the pooet and cap, a spring actuated pin mounted in and projecting from the topof the cap, and a twistmg head formed of sheet metal having a series ofnotches formed in its underside to aline and register with the holdingpin, and a spring contained within the head having one end securedthereto and the other end projected for engagement with the holes in thecap.

Si ed at Bridgeport in the county of 15 Fair eld and State ofConnecticut this 22nd day of June, A. D. 1920.

FRANK L. LINDSTROM.

Witnesses:

C. M. NEWMAN, v LILLIAN M. Amzsnr.

